Sun guard Jessica January hopes to make most of second chance

Published 12:00 am, Monday, May 7, 2018

Jessica January, left, impressed Sun coach and GM Curt Miller enough last preseason, that he decided to give her a rare second chance this year.

Jessica January, left, impressed Sun coach and GM Curt Miller enough last preseason, that he decided to give her a rare second chance this year.

Photo: Associated Press File Photo

Sun guard Jessica January hopes to make most of second chance

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UNCASVILLE — Jessica January had no way of knowing that when she was handed her walking papers by the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun on the day before the 2017 season opener, it wasn’t really a case of her saying goodbye as much as a feeling of until we meet again.

Typically when a third-round pick like January fails to make the roster, that chapter is closed. However, January impressed Sun coach and general manager Curt Miller enough that he signed January and gave her a rare second chance.

“She was good last year and impressed in the exhibition game (against Los Angeles), made some big shots,” Miller said. “We thought she had a chance to continue to get better overseas and come back.

“She is so poised right now. When the ball gets into her hands, you are comfortable that we are going to get into the actions that we want. She is a capable scorer, but right now she is showing her growth by going overseas. She is really comfortable in our terminology and our system. I think she was nervous and she is not nervous now and we are better now in a lot of areas when she is on the court with that second unit.”

Despite missing 15 games as a senior due to a hand injury, January joined Brittany Hrynko and Chanise Jenkins as only DePaul players with at least 1,500 points, 500 assists and 200 steals. January was in the conversation to make the 2017 Connecticut Sun roster right down to the bitter end.

“It’s tough but we are all adults,” January said. “It is a business and we know that getting waived is part of the business. It was a great opportunity and it helped me make it to training camp again this year.”

At last week’s practice before the team’s media day festivities, January made her presence felt securing rebounds in traffic and getting her hands on a number of passes and making some plays that she probably wouldn’t have made at last year’s camp.

“Coming from DePaul, everybody thinks 3s but you have to look at how do we get those 3s?” January said. “We get the 3s from our defense and by getting tough rebounds.”

January, who averaged 17.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.9 steals in 19 games at CSU Alba Iulia in Romania, knows she faces an uphill battle to make the Sun’s roster. Returning players Rachel Banham, Alex Bentley, Jonquel Jones, Chiney Ogwumike, Shekinna Stricklen, Alyssa Thomas, Jasmine Thomas, Morgan Tuck and Courtney Williams as well as first-round pick Lexie Brown should all make the team. One of the two remaining spots figures to go to a post player leaving one position with January likely fighting it out with Tyra Buss, Leticia Romero and Betnijah Laney to make the cut.

“I learned a ton,” January said. “Coming in from college, I think it was a really big difference but the speed of the game, the flow of the game and obviously the players, everyone is very talented. I just learned that I have to be coachable. When you are coming into a team that has their core group, you have to find what you can do to contribute. I think being here last year definitely helped me this year, I am more confident and I definitely feel more comfortable around the girls.”

Connecticut opens preseason play against Los Angeles on Monday at 7 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena with a game on Tuesday against Dallas at the same time before wrapping up the preseason Friday against Atlanta at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport. Former UConn players Kia Nurse of the New York Liberty as well as Natalie Butler and Azurá Stevens of Dallas are scheduled to make their professional debuts at Mohegan Sun Arena at 5 p.m. in the first game in Monday’s doubleheader.